Health officials detail Medicaid cuts

State health officials have begun unveiling plans to cut $500 million from the state’s Medicaid programs over the next two years. Department of Health Services spokeswoman Stephanie Smiley says DHS has to find millions in savings in order to keep those programs viable and accessible. “The Department has released a website which is a transparent way for Wisconsin citizens to view and provide comments on what the department is doing and proposing to keep Medicaid financially stable,” she said. The biggest saving is an enrollment freeze on Family Care, the program which helps older adults out of nursing homes. That’s designed save $106 million. Smiley says more proposals will be unveiled in the coming days.